Devin Booker comes up big in fourth as Suns beat Pelicans again

Field Level Media|published: Sat 27th December, 21:57 2025

Dec 27, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) pleads with referee Suyash Mehta (82) about a play against New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado (15) during the first half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Devin Booker finished with 20 points, including six in the fourth quarter, and Dillon Brooks added 18 points to lead the Phoenix Suns to a 115-106 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday, completing the two-game road sweep.

Collin Gillepsie and Jordan Goodwin were among the seven Suns players to finish with double-digit points with 17 and 16, respectively. Royce O'Neale chipped in with 15 points and Jamaree Bouyea added 12. Mark Williams, who was ejected for fighting in the third quarter, finished with 10 points.

Trey Murphy III led the Pelicans with 24 points and Zion Williamson scored 22 points on 8-for-11 shooting. Derik Queen, who was celebrating his 21st birthday on Saturday, recorded a double-double with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Saddiq Bey added 17 points and Jeremiah Fears finished with 18 points and eight rebounds.

Booker, who battled through foul trouble after picking up his fourth early in the third quarter, saved his best for last once again.

With the Suns clinging to a 107-104 lead with 4:31 left in the game, Booker rattled off six points, including a fadeaway jumper in the lane to give Phoenix a 113-106 lead with 2:58 remaining.

Brooks added a pull-up jumper, and an O'Neale 3-pointer with 1:26 left in the game gave the Suns a 118-108 lead.

Tempers flared throughout the night between the two teams, particularly in the third quarter when Williams and Jose Alvarado were both ejected for fighting. Both Williams and Alvarado threw punches. At the end of the game, both teams met near halfcourt but nothing escalated.

After trailing by 10 at halftime, Queen kept the Pelicans in the game with a strong third quarter. At one point, Queen scored 10 consecutive Pelicans points to cut the deficit to 73-69 with 8:14 in the third.

Gillespie made his first five 3-point attempts and finished with 15 first-half points. Phoenix also rode 18 offensive rebounds, which led to 24 second-chance points in the first half and 11 first-half 3-pointers to take a 66-56 lead into the half.

The Suns made 20 three-pointers while the Pelicans were limited to nine.

--Field Level Media